This thread and the one on FABO speak volumes. I'll bet the income he loses from these two threads alone will drastically eclipse what he'd of been out by making it right in the first place - regardless of who's fault it was. Poor business decision in my opinion.

That is the whole point.

He's since moved but when he was at his "old" location I'd stopped by a couple of times to ask about the possibility of him building me a trans. I didn't like his attitude.
My son took him a trans out of a 92 W250 diesel for a rebuild.
He claimed to have known who had been inside this trans before him, because of the color they'd painted it.... did nothing but [censored] about them(I forget who he had said it was) we had to pull it a 2nd time and swap converters since he'd gotten the wrong one from CRT. But the trans itself was alright. I just wish CRTs attitude was better....
I have another guy in mind to try the next time I need a trans built.
I too have since built a couple of my own since getting "the attitude" as described early in this post.

I'll just add a little from one of my experiences (the very LAST one) dealing with him. This was about 10 years ago, so he hasn't gotten any better since.


I was wanting to build a fairly expensive 727 (about $2500 to $3000) to put behind my new 499 stroker engine. Not a stock trans, not a true race trans, but something stout enough to handle 500+ hp and close to 600 torque without grenading. Well, we pretty well had it spec'ed out with what parts would be used and had the price figured pretty close. That's when it all went to hell in a handbasket. I made the mistake of asking him for a detailed written parts list with prices, PLUS I asked if he would give me a written warranty on the transmission. He EXPLODED on me on the phone calling me all kinds of things (not nice stuff). Then he followed up with the NASTIEST e-mail I've ever received calling me names that I won't repeat. (I still have that e-mail from him) All because I asked for documentation of the trans build and what my money was going to be spent on. Of course, after that e-mail I received from him, that was the end of it as far as I was concerned. I no longer had any kind of trust or respect for him.

The transmission I wanted for the stroker still got built, but it was done by A&A in Camby, Indiana. I've been very pleased with that transmission for 10 years now and its still going strong. So, in retrospect I guess I owe him a thank you (which will NOT happen after the way he treated me) for showing me his true self and diverting me to A&A instead.

I have a car in the shop with a pos Cope BB transmission. Bangs 3d so hard it will knock you silly. According to the car owner - John was happy to take the money but when the transmission gave trouble after installation he lived up to his abrasive-dishonest reputation. I plan on bringing it to him and leaving it at the front door the next time i pass thru that part of the country.
Should make a good youtube video

All of you keyboard commandos on here defending his shoddy work [as usual] need to eat some crow for speaking out of turn like a dummy, learn to be quiet when you have nothing positive to contribute and come over to help swap the transmission - as it is a pita to swap due to the configuration of the car.

Sounds like some YouTube videos are certainly in order. Tear downs should be some good cautionary tales.

How does somebody send out so many wrong convertors?

From what I’ve seen of how a lot of less than stellar people operate, a lot of people will become submissive when somebody has these blow ups and that enables them to continue to perpetrate their less than stellar business practices.

This has certainly been an eye opening thread. Thanks for it, as I need a transmission and it saved me a lot of hassle. Just wish you didn't have to go through it in the first place.

good deal , glad to save someone from making sa big mistake like i did ..

and, still lots of places in the WWW to make people aware of the problems and the lack of customer care

Kinda looks like as he finishes out his career it may be the place to buy parts but not get builds done.

my last order with him I did online a couple years ago. Some clutches and steels and a SOLID non grooved band for my 904. Clutches and steels were what I ordered but I received a welded/reinforced flex band. When I called him on it he stated “that’s what I ordered”…. well that’s not what my screen shots of the order said. He went on to say the flex band was what he used in his race transmissions and it would be good. I ate the core as I wasn’t going to send a solid band back for a flex. At about 20 passes in checking things over I found the front band a little looser than I’d like. Adjusted it up thinking maybe it was something I did. At 82 passes I pulled the trans to take a peak (this is an incredibly stock component build… I know many in the 904 circles that wonder why it’s lasting). What I found was that the mounting point on the flex band had worn/bent some creating the gap. I’ve stayed on top of it and it hasn’t gone any further. Eclipsed 100 passes on it last weekend . A friend of mine in the W8/W9 circle had the same experience (with the band purchase).

I’ll also give Mr Cope credit that on another order (727 stuff way back) I ordered on like a Wednesday. He had trouble getting my card to go through, but shipped the stuff anyways. It was the following Monday I was able to call him and get the card ran. I appreciated his trust on that deal.

I have no doubt that John C has built some killer stuff…. but to be honest his “handling” of things has had me…., let’s just say leery.

PTC converters….. after watching my bud Billy run through like 6 of them, you can have them. That converter fiasco almost rivals this trans build.


I’ve had Pro Trans work on two of my 727s and consider Dave and Darren friends. Even had issues with front drum piston throwing springs which nobody was sure why, but it was corrected on my second visit with that trans. I was going to freshen my 904 when it was apart and upgrade the input and output shafts but when I text someone and have to send them two more messages with (???) and then a week and a half later get a reply stating ( I think I can round up those parts)…,, well I was already opening the boxes from Andrews Racing Transmissions. A friend of mine (W8/W9 guy of course) has Chris build his transmissions and highly recommended him. I bought an A&A shaft from a fellow racer (unobtanium) and ended up going “all in” and sent the parts I bought from ART back to them along with case and my output shaft and having them built a complete 904. Chris has called me and texted updates. Very easy person to talk to and I’m looking forward to having a more “robust” trans behind the worlds SLO-est n/a W8 small block

Why in the world are we discussing this here? If you have a problem with CRT take it up with them. Work it out. None of us caused it, and none of us know the complete story. I don't knpw John Cope, and I don't know you. If he has poor business practices it will show and his business will suffer. I've been racing over years, and have certainly had some bad experiences. But, I work it out with them. Frankly, airing a business dispute on a board like this is Bush League.

got news for yah, the entire internet is a place to give reviews of bad service , bad food , bad people , criminals, scam artists , bad roads , you name it


I did try to talk to him , he hung up on me ..

This says it all.

Why wouldn’t you discuss topics on subjects such as this??? What I do know is the OP paid for up front in good faith for a transmission that took quite awhile to be shipped…. and then it showed up with NO torque converter (already paid for). He was in the middle of a build and time was not of the essence, but that’s not to say he wasn’t “concerned” about the situation. The OP is not a “trans guy”…. if I were to order a race trans (which I have recently) I’d know whether or not it was A500 pump geared and what the correct converter was. This situation OP ordered the trans (assembled incorrectly) AND the wrong converter was suppplied to him!! At this point I’d hope/wish John Cope would take the high road and build a COMPLETE trans with CONVERTER and simply accept the present one as core.

It's hard to believe there could be that many issues from anybody building a Torqueflite. It's not that complicated. Get the parts that will survive the intended power level. Assemble it. Compared to building and engine, it's cake. Most everything is a bolts in. Now modified stuff like the Pro Trans with 904 guts that are fitted to any number of other type of cases is a different story. They are a very nice piece. Obviously many modified parts. But not hard to assemble. I've purchased parts from John in the past. They worked fine. Purchased plenty of stuff from Rick at A&A. Rick ships fast. His stuff is good. He's a good guy to talk to. Just like my engines. If there's a problem with assembly it's on me.
Doug

well , it must not be easy since what I bought is a complete mess of wrong parts and poor assembly , and he is a professional ,

Dont remind me. The combination of TTI headers for a BB A body, and all those times I pulled that thing in and out of that car I still have nightmares. My old box was littered with those decals like kills on a war plane, lined up and x'ed out. EVERY time I have mentioned issues with PTC here I was roasted on here like I have never worked on a car before.

FWIW I have a Joels on Joy TF in my 64. He has been great when I have called with questions and to date its flawless.

I have had 3 PTCs they say, according to paperwork from JOHN COPE from CRT Racing transmissions in Lowell Indiana that he ordered it wrong , I asked them to send the copy to me

I contacted him about buying a 727core I wanted to get rid of. First he asked if I would take a check, I said no. He offers $125 cash. I bring it to his shop, and I must have interrupted him eating his Ruffles.Kind of a attitude. He did give me the $125 for the core though.

The biggest purpose of boards like these are to save people from being screwed over...

As for the PTC converter, after seeing the shop filmed on "Fastest Cars of the Dirty South", I wouldn't buy anything from them... What a mess.